TheCable

Paul Onwuanibe, chief  executive officer (CEO) of Landmark Africa Group, says government has not formally contacted the resort on the impact the construction of the Lagos-Calabar highway would have on its business. 

On Wednesday, some employees of the resort staged a protest to show their disapproval, after the federal government began sand filling of the beachfront for the construction of the coastal highway. 

The 700-kilometre Lagos-Calabar coastal highway is expected to run through the shoreline of the beach resort in Lagos, while traversing eight other states. 

Addressing the development on Thursday in a statement issued by Elsie Ogianyo, brand and corporate communications manager of Landmark, Onwuanibe said “till date, Landmark has never been officially consulted on the coastal highway alignment nor have we been engaged in discussions with regards to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the project on Landmark”. 

“The accelerated sand filling on the Landmark shoreline has sent widespread panic and fear to the independent businesses, suppliers, employees, investors, financiers, and clients that all conduct business within the Landmark Ecosystem,” the statement reads. 

The CEO also said a rerouting of the project should have been considered by government.

“Along the original 1.5km coastal road route which passes through the Water Corporation Road median, there are no permanent structures whatsoever. This original alignment remains unused, undeveloped and available till date for the development of the coastal highway,” the statement reads.

“We feel that rerouting back to this original alignment is one of the several, credible win-win solutions that exist that will also avoid disruption to the beach.

“Of the 80+ businesses that make up the Landmark Ecosystem, over half of them are situated on the Landmark Beach directly in the right of way of the coastal road.

“These businesses have invested between NGN15-20 billion on their businesses in addition to the NGN25 billion that Landmark has invested in the underlying infrastructure.”

The statement said over 12,000 Nigerians are directly and indirectly employed by Landmark, and that their “livelihoods would be greatly jeopardised if the beach is demolished”.

“As we continue to pursue dialogue with officials at all levels of the government, we are sure to receive a formal notification with regard to a timeline for the potential resolution of this matter to quell the fears and uncertainty felt throughout our community,” the statement adds. 

On April 11, Dave Umahi, minister of works, said the road construction will not affect Landmark’s facilities, adding that the project’s corridor has been reduced to 50 meters.

Umahi said only the shoreline could be lost.